The Woodlands, TX

Bear Branch Sportsfield Park

Permanent course
35(based on 12 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Bear Branch Sportsfield Park reviews

Filter
15 0
blake833
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 160 played 140 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun round with a lot of twists and turns (ok maybe not) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 3, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Bear Branch is a great course in clear woods with some medium rough on the sides. The course is in a mostly pine forest, with a couple water hazards. This is a fun round in the woods of holes with great variety, in one of the more scenic woods around Houston.

Tees are nice concrete, pads with maps and distances, lines are fairly open with only a few exceptions, but still mostly fair.

Cons:

There are a couple tight spots, but that's almost to be expected, as is the being mainly flat. Hole 1 starts from slight elevation, but if you're from somewhere with real slopes you wouldn't call it that.

There's a premium on straight shots of varying distance in the hole design on this course. A few have left/right finishes, but if you can fly a disc straight and maybe lace it a bit, you'll be fine here.

The pictures posted, as of this review, do not show the current course. It looks like it's been redesigned according to the course page.

Other Thoughts:

The recent redesign did a great job, especially after looking at the pictures of the old course. It looks like there's a lot of similarity, but a real improvement on the themes and using the areas a bit better.

This was a tricky one to rate because I really did like it a lot. I wanted to give it a "Very Good" 3.5, but what really stopped me was putting this course into a wider perspective: For a Houston course, this would be a 3.5. Maybe even a 4. But judged against all courses, it just doesn't have an edge that makes it a little special, a little memorable. I played this course like 3 days ago and I already can't remember a lot of it, and remember better the 9 hole courses I played earlier on this trip.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
MikeTorre
Experience: 11.8 years 80 played 23 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun spot to throw 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 19, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Fun & free -> a technical, "executive-sized" 18 hole course free and open to the public designed in a forested green space of a mixed-used family sports complex

Accessible -> the majority of holes in the 200's, very gentle lines (no crazy doglegs), and no real hazards all make this course great for beginners, novices, and easy-going amateurs

Clean & safe -> nice, residential neighborhood (the Woodlands), with ample parking*, friendly locals, great tee pads, signs, a course map, way-findings, etc.

Cons:

Not hugely challenging -> more experienced amateurs and competitors may find the course a little short and a bit too easy

Lack of variety -> while certainly fun to throw, the similarity of the holes and lack of hazards make the holes feel "samesy"

Other Thoughts:

Great example of how disc golf can fit seamlessly and safely into a mixed use facility. Golfers can enjoy a full round without having to worry about interfering with the athletes and kids using the fields.

*The last time I swung by for a round happened to land on a day of a big soccer tournament and there was *no* parking. It was a complete zoo, but that was just the once. :)

Given that they are only 10 minutes apart along the same street (Research Forest), I like throw Bear Branch and Stonebridge on the same day.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 5
ivanhenson
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 12.8 years 664 played 218 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Perfect scenic short forest course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 27, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The forest is awesome. The animals great. The use of land and layout are great. And some of the best signs and tee pads ever. Signs are everywhere. Easy to follow and read and great layout and use of space.

Cons:

Older baskets. And its odd since they paid so much for signs and pads

Other Thoughts:

Short but pretty well worth it
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 397 played 383 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Quality throughout 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

As a first time visitor who prefers shorter, tree lined, technical courses at the intermediate level of difficulty, Bear Branch's new design made for an ideal stop on a late Texas afternoon. From its beautiful, large, level, concrete tees, through quality, informative tee signage, from an abundance of 'next tee' signs when needed, through benches, bridges, and steps, and finally to its new 24 chain dga baskets, this course delivers on all the amenities.

But the design of the course is what really leaves a positive impression. Given the flat terrain and limited space available in the wooded periphery of a soccer sports complex, the first few holes give you opportunities to shape shots right to left, L-R, R-L, then straight, and that level of variety is maintained for 18 holes. Hole distances are in the recreational to intermediate range, with most between 225 and 275 feet, but mixed in are a couple under 200', and a couple between 370 and 445'. There is a pond to the left of holes 6 and 15, but plenty of room to play it safe if you want to keep your discs dry.

Course flow is fine, and easy to follow for any first timer who brings the map and watches the signs, though there are a couple of walks between holes. Hazards at adjoining fairways are kept to a minimum. You may want to walk ahead to locate tees the first time through, but the signs really help if you want to throw 'blind' on the handful of holes where you can't see the basket from the tee.

Cons:

The course lies in a bit of a flood plain, and is both flat, and prone to hold water. The soil is sandy, so it won't get you too muddy, but there are a lot of mosquitoes in season. There's not a lot of 'distance' on this course, if that's what you're looking for. The wooded lanes, though fair for intermediate skill levels and above, may still result in tree kicks for beginners, recreational players, and even guys who want to force ace runs out of every chance.

On the positive side, those tree kicks are unlikely to result in a lost disc, as the piney woods reduce most thick underbrush. Finally, there are unavoidable walks from time to time (especially from 16 to 17 & from 18 back to your car).

Other Thoughts:

If you are coming to Bear Branch for the first time, go to the last soccer fields on the left, and not to the church parking lot beyond. You'll see the course map and the entry to the woods at hole 1. Enjoy: it's a great opening hole.

As a disc golfer approaching 7 years and 300 reviews, bordering on intermediate skills, while playing with folks from 7 to 87 years old, I try to write reviews helpful to all.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
MCSulte
Experience: 6.8 years 5 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a well thought out easy to follow course that is good for a beginner and has enough to keep an advanced player engaged.
The tee boxes are deeply brushed concrete large and wide. Fairways are maintained nicely. Baskets are in good shape. If you look around you can see that some other elements available have been left out of play, the most obvious is the pond. You will have one water hazard on the left side of a single hole (#15).

Cons:

The drainage for # 12 has stopped up. The entire fairway and basket is covered in ankle deep water, it hasn't rained in three days.

Other Thoughts:

A great steward of the game Brandon H. was on the course today. Each of us were playing solo so we paired up and played on. Brandon's skill and experience level is far beyond mine. He offered to take his own time, and many of his own disc, to help me with my mechanics and got me on track. BRAVO! to Brandon H. he is a shining example of the great people that are carrying the game to others.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
srm_520
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20 years 156 played 142 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Old Made New Again 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

(Review note: Course comparisons made are to the original layout and not the first redesign. Number of times played is new design only) First, I love the placement of the new #1 tee box. Having the first box on the far side of the park makes it easier for golfers to park away from the soccer crowds. Plus, there is no more walk clear across the soccer fields just to start and end the course. It just makes sense.

Logistically, the course is laid out very well with only minor long walks between holes and making sure to end in relative proximity to the beginning. Signage is a major improvement, and having the increased number of "next tee" signs is extremely helpful for first-timers to the course. The concrete pads are ample sized and well-brushed for good traction.

The redesigned holes also place a premium on accuracy over distance, maximizing the small space the course designers had to work with. However, even with the focus on accuracy, none of the holes felt "unfair" in that chutes and lanes are so tight you have to be lucky rather than good. Finally, even a short layout, the designers made sure to just enough hyzer versus anhyzer holes to ensure all players are equally challenged.

BEST HOLE/S: #1

Cons:

To me the cons are more like courses preferences. First, the course is short - clocking in at almost 4900'. There is one hole, (#6) where a big arm could even think about opening up. If big wide open long holes are your preference, then you'll love this new design just about as much as you enjoyed the old design. Overall transitions between holes are good, but first-timers can still benefit from the map because of the blind long walks from #14-#17.

One of my personal sad notes is I wish the lake had been incorporated into the new design a bit more. There are two holes, (#6 & #15) where the lake could even remotely come into play, but if you are an intermediate player or above - these will absolutely not be a problem. I remember when I first started playing disc golf, and holes 3 & 4 (old design) would loom to my newbie arm. Although they weren't fantastic holes in general, they are some of the few I will always remember simply because of the water - so nostalgia me missed that bit of challenge in this new course. #17 made me laugh because the old #17 was simply awful if you tried to run the chute, but the new hole is better but still similar in approach. However, you can still bomb it around the outside of the trees, so if the designers wanted to really make the players work - they need to make #17 a mando going left off the tee.

WORST HOLE/S: #17

Other Thoughts:

Besides Agnes Moffitt Park, Bear Branch is one of those courses that I've played for so long - it's more like an old friend to me. And unlike Agnes, it was a course that forced me to throw straight and accurate. It wasn't the best course, or really even a great course - but I loved it dearly and it helped ignite my passion for disc golf. So having said that - I'm happy to say that new course felt fresh, but thankfully didn't bastardize the feel the old wooded course originally strived to be. 3.5 discs might be a touch generous because it's still not the best course, and will never be considered a top tier course in Texas, but it's well-loved by a dedicated group of locals - and in the end that may be the most important thing of all.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
hawk12
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 33.6 years 272 played 27 reviews
1.00 star(s)

What happened to this place - the pics show maintained faiways? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 15, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

There are 17 baskets on the poles, there are tee signs, there are rubber mats for one and some holes have two tees.

There are water fountains, and bathrooms, and plenty of parking.

Well that's about it for pros, and most of them don;t have much to do with the actual course.

Cons:

Whew, where to start...
Grass and weeds have overgrown the fairways, the underbrush is creeping in from the side of almost every hole and lanes are down to less than 5 ft. wide in places.

Tee pads, are indeed rubber, but they did not bother to out them on a wood frame, so they are uneven and some are all of 5-6ft. long, why bother with an under 6ft mat?

Tee signs, well, they don't all seem to match the holes - and the map on here doesn't seem to match the tee signs, or the course either... Tough navigating

Hole 1s basket has broken welds and is laying on the ground around the pole...

Other Thoughts:

This park has money, there are like 8-10 soccer fields, nice bathrooms and water fountains everywhere in the park - but the disc golf course is a complete after thought. Both by the parks dept and local vomunteers that could maintain this place and actually make it a somewhat decent course, maybe..
.
Trask everywhere in the woods and underbrush too, just give it some love locals, is that too much too ask?

If volunteers would get together and have a few work days, this course could get back to looking like the pictures, instead of completely overgrown mess.

Its disc golfc oruses like this that give our sport a bad name. Someone local get organized and put in some work. And I;m not calling out the lack of effort alone, I do more than my share at several courses back home.

This was the first course in a very long time that I wish I skipped and played somewhere else tonight. Just sad to see it fall apart.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 1
CTRobuck
Experience: 16.2 years 49 played 10 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Don't go in alone!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 28, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Luckily for me I had a guide for the new Design.

* Tough shots, but decent lines cut out.
* Decent park, with water and OB
* Great test for RH anny's and LH hyzers

Cons:

Unfortunately this is where it gets real.

* Terrible layout
* Doubling back, through other "fairways" or throwing lines is very unsafe
* Needs some sort of signage. (I hear it is on the way)
* Soccer fields can really come into play and be distracting when being used.
* Some new baskets needed. Not all are bad but some are really bad.
* No hole to hole flow

Other Thoughts:

If you are going to make a trip to Houston and you really want to play this course make sure you have a guide, even if you hve played it in the previous layout you need someone to show you around the new layout. IMHO, if you are headed to Houston and in this area hit up Stonebridge, Spring Valley, Windwood or Northside instead. Once the course gets some more TLC it may turn into something worth driving for. However, for now this is not a great course to go out of your way to play.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
0 5
Maddpiercer
Experience: 11.1 years 19 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is good for beginners as well as expert players.

Cons:

this would have gotten a 5 from me but with the changes done to the course layout the tee markers need to be updated and put back in the ground.

Other Thoughts:

Beware after rain days holes 10-16 get pretty mucky.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
c_a_miller
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 299 played 207 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The new and improved Bear Branch is a great improvement from the old course, with new lines, harder shots, and more length. My biggest con with the previous course was the hole length and the new course is now around 700 ft longer then the previous one.

Another con that was addressed was too many straight shots. Most of the holes are no longer a straight look at the basket. Hyzers, anhyzers, and flicks are all necessary to be able to be able to get birdies. A good example of this would be Hole 5. You have to put a big hyzer on your disc over the water in order to even think about getting a two but there is a lay up spot. This course is filled with these risk/reward shots

There were a few holes that were decent at the last course and most of these holes were kept and maybe tweaked a little bit to make them that much better.

Cons:

Navigation is a bit of an issue. Hole 1 starts pretty far away from the parking lot. There is a long walk from 7 to 8. And there could be a bit of confusion with holes 11 12, and 13 on where you are supposed to throw from and where to.

Hole 13 is a brand new hole that was carved out of the trees and it is one of those type of holes that needs a good amount of luck to get to the basket in one shot. There are trees scattered with no noticeable lines to take.

The course is riddled with graffiti, smoking teenagers, and foul language. The course also is very crowded at peak times.

Other Thoughts:

I am still not a huge fan of this course. The course is challenging but the atmosphere of the course is not pleasing. I am glad this course can be used by the avid disc golfer more often with harder lines but there are much better options nearby.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
0 4
Lanzer913
Experience: 11 years 9 played 1 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Work in Progress 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The soccer fields next to the course are perfect for practice drives as long as there isnt kids playing a game, Tons of parking. close to everything. a good amount of trash cans.

Cons:

course is still in the middle of being redesigned. hopefully will be done soon since its the closest course to me that is free.

Other Thoughts:

I never played the course before the redesign so i cant say how much better it was before. the new design seems like a good change so i hope to keep learning on this course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
Stevo
Experience: 20.8 years 127 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A well deserved re-design 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Redesigned course that was in need of a facelift. The new design diverts the course away from the adjoining soccer fields as much as possible, minimizing the chance of errant throws landing in the middle of a youth soccer game. There are multiple trash cans on the course and benches as well. Other park amenities include restrooms and during soccer events, a concession stand is open. The soccer fields themselves, while not designated for disc golf, are newly laid artificial turf and are great for some open field driving practice if you happen to get there at off times.

The course itself has 2 sets of tees, with the shorts giving newer or less skilled players "easier" lines to the basket, albeit not always shorter. The longs tees have challenging lines, mostly wooded holes. The rough can be very punishing and can ruin your chances at saving a par (especially holes 3, 10, 11, 13 and 14). Birdies are definitely there, but must be earned.

A pond comes into play on 3 holes (5, 6 & 7 and theoretically 16 as well) to add diversity.

Some of the original holes were kept and/or modified to be more fun. #10 stands out as a favorite. It is a 300' tunnel shot with thick rough on both sides leading up to a handful of guardian trees protecting the green. The new #5 (250') is a sharp hyzer over the pond to a basket protected by a few trees. For those not wanting to risk it over the water, a "bail out" spot to the right will guarantee safety, but diminish the chance of carding a bird. #14 is a ~430' tunnel with a steady right curve and a low canopy all the way down. The rough is exactly that on both sides, and once you get about 200' from the basket, the OB line on the right begins and goes out past the green. It's a very tough hole that requires good placement shot(s). The finishing hole is about 320 ft with a straight line to the basket if you can hit a 12' wide gap between 2 tall pine trees. Otherwise, a big anny or solid FH can get you on the green (assuming you are RH).

Most of this course plays in the woods, so that can be refreshing during the Houston summers (March - October).




Cons:

Right now, the tee pads are rubber and are just laid on the ground. I know there are plans to build new ones, but at the moment, this is what we have.

A few holes (4 and 10) still play close to soccer fields.

A long walk from 7 to 8 and from 18 back to the parking lot

No practice basket

Slight danger zone walking from 11 to 12 (although a path is being cleared to eliminate this)

No signs (near future)

Parents / siblings of the youth soccer players tend to wander off into the woods, which happen to be our fairways. Unattended children are sometimes found playing with / hanging on the baskets, so check down the fairway before you throw.

Frequent sightings of angst-y teenagers (high school close by) and graffiti on benches/trash cans/baskets/etc are believed to be caused by a handful of them ("disc charging stations" are now being spotted on benches here and other nearby courses). This does not factor into my score, as it is not a flaw in the design of the course, but it is a con to me.

Snakes sighted frequently (water moccasins, copperheads, coral snakes), but this is TX - nothing new here. Again, not a design flaw, just noting it.



Other Thoughts:

The park is a nice place with the necessary amenities and plenty of parking. The course deserved this redesign and the designer used the available land in the most efficient and most fun way possible. Glad to see people still care about this place, as this is where I cut my teeth years ago.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top